By Lamin Idriss Conteh
One of the most popular figures in Sierra Leone football circles Sama Sesay who last Thursday was laid to rest at the Circular Road cemetery in Freetown past Sunday. Until his death Sesay was Chairman of the community level Central One Football Association (COFA). The mini- league organised by COFA, was for predominantly young and raw talents eyeing the prospect of playing higher level football.
Many boys who have gone on to play for top local clubs and professional football abroad, passed through the COFA league. The veteran football enthusiast is considered as one of the longest serving and very influential football administrators in Sierra Leone who received a lot of accolades including the Presidential Award, as Member of the Order of the Rokel (MOR), by former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma in 2017.
During his tenure, a lot of football activities were organised which helped to identify talents and exposed them to the limelight. Players like Kemson Fofana, Alusine Koroma, Alhassan (twin), Saidu Fofanah and many other players were recognised and recruited by various football clubs across the country through COFA.
Sesay had been in the football realm for over thirty years before his death. During those years, he invested a lot into the game and his contributions to the sport will forever remain in the hearts of football fans.
Host of football governing bodies: Central One Football Association (COFA), Ministry of Sports, National Sports Authority, Western Area Football Association (WAFA), Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), and Bo District Football Association etc. were in attendance to pay their last respect to Sesay.
Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Yellenkeh sent representatives on his behalf. One of the representatives said: “The Minister was unable to come but he sent his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family,’’one of them said. People of different walks of life were also in attendance to witness the burial.
Football loving fans said that they will forever remember the great man, who in one way or the other, changed the lives of many youths during his remarkable years in the game.
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